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Wed05302012

Last update10:15:45 PM

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Business

Graphix Station | Modern Business Review

Graphix Station uses the analogy that they are like the only phone booth on a deserted dirt road. Explanation? In most cases, businesses that succeed do so with a planned image, brand and ideas that will support their core business. They know better to hire a reputable expert in the graphics industry. It costs money to look good. And often, small startups fall short on the design element of their business. Trying to do the task on their own, or hiring fly by night designers, their campaigns fail and they end up on the lower list of the ruling business class in Loudoun. There is hope. Mary Adkins is the ruler of this domain. She creates unique designs, creative marketing packages and she does it while she manages her family all in the comfort of her office to the left of her home’s entry. Here is her secret to success and advice to entrepreneurs out there looking for ideas. Her advice is indeed your phone booth on the deserted dirt road.

 Why graphic design?
Graphic design basically chose me. My first job was designing apparel for a screen-printing and embroidery company. I’ve had no special training, but I had talent and everything evolved from there.

What are your favorite designs?
There are so many clients I’ve had the fortune of working with: Go Bananas (www.gobananastoys.com),Fun Dog Fed, Scotto’s Rigatoni Grill, Carryout Coach to name a few. A project that I’m most proud of wasn’t for a client. A few days after 9/11 my husband and I started a neighborhood drive to raise money for the Red Cross. I came up with a “USA, Never Forget” design for t-shirts and sweatshirts. Within a few weeks, we sold over 1100 tees/ sweatshirts and raised $10,200.00!

What is your best advice for someone who aspires to be a successful entrepreneur?
Have faith in yourself. Anything is possible, if you truly put your mind to it. If I, a woman with no degree and four children, can create a successful business well…. anyone can do it!

How about to someone starting a new business?
From a ‘Branding’ perspective: Don’t let the image you are trying to reflect be the last thing on your list. Start your business with a professional image, a true impression of who you are as a company. While you shouldn’t be paying thousands and thousands of dollars, you also should not expect to get something for nothing. Market yourself! Just because ‘Build it and they will come’ worked for Field of Dreams, doesn’t mean it will for you.

What do you tell a new client?
Do it yourself ‘Quick fixes’ that lead to multiple identity changes just don’t work. If you don’t invest in yourself, how can you expect others to invest in you or your product? I see it way too many times, clients will slap a logo design (probably created in MSWord) onto a business card that is printed from their personal printer with the perforated edges, and brochures printed in ten different formats, with ten different fonts, on ten different colors of paper stock… JUST STOP! Back away from the clip art! Have your Logo and Branding identity created professionally. Market it and be remembered!
picture by Michael Vonal

Flintstone Marble and Granite | Modern Business Review

 1. How did you get involved in the marble and granite business?

My husband, Mustafa Inetas has been involved in the granite business for over 6 years. He was also assisting new fabrication companies in how to set up their fabrication shops. At the time I was working as a Retail Vice President for SunTrust bank and had several granite companies as my clients. In order to meet their financial needs to the fullest extent I had to have a thorough understanding of the industry. One day I told Mustafa, “You’re helping these other companies out, why don’t you open your own shop!” Adil Konya, his partner, had also been working in the industry for numerous years and wanted to have the opportunity to run a business. He heard that Mustafa was looking for a partner and from their initial meetings Flintstone Marble & Granite LLC was born.

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CuriosityZone in Ashburn, VA | Modern Business

 A crowd of 3-year-olds in white lab coats surround an alligator in a pond, working to move it to a new home using a stick and a block; no one seems concerned about the teeth. Nearby, a small group of 5 and 6-year-olds observe a volcanic eruption, staring in fascination as the red lava runs down the mountain’s side less than a foot away. Again, no one seems worried. They are not young mad scientists allowed to run amok, but are instead groups of young children learning about and more importantly having fun with, science. This is not an unusual scene at Curiosity Zone in Broadlands Village Shopping Center in Ashburn. Lessons like this are taught, and enjoyed, every day at this popular party destination.

Attorney, inventor and entrepreneur, Mary Porter, founded Curiosity Zone in 2004. Her goal was to provide children with a place to explore, discover and learn. Prior to opening the Curiosity Zone, she studied museums and science programs – testing and researching the best available programs. Her classes were initially developed in 2002 as part of the Genius Jones after-school science program, which was taught in private elementary schools and day care centers in Loudoun and Fairfax counties. “The limits of teaching science in a mobile format became obvious and frustrating,” and the concept of creating a kid-sized science lab emerged. She chose an up and coming shopping center in Broadlands for the location of her first kid friendly laboratory.

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A Vineyard Lord Fairfax and David Lovett would have been Proud

Situated just at the edge of historic city of Hillsborough (established in 1752), Hillsborough Vineyards encompasses both the last few acres from Lord Fairfax’ estate (originally 2,500 acres) and a house build in the 1820’s by David Lovett (Founder of Lovettsville, VA).

Owned and operated by the Baki family, Hillsborough Vineyards is the fruit of true family labor and love. Father Bora Baki, a native of Istanbul, Turkey is no stranger to agriculture. He grew up in a family that cultivated grapes and apricots in his native country. Mother Zeynep Baki, also a native of Turkey, cooks delicious meals for the hundreds of visitors that come in waves during the weekend. Their son Kerem is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a Master degree in Enology (study of winemaking).

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Keep My Tax Rate at $1.11 or Lower (Part II)

You may have read my recent blog about the recent tax hikes for our homes in Loudoun County. Jim Burton, Supervisor for Blue Ridge District, send me a response defending the tax increase. I am publishing his response without comments. Please click Read More to see the full response.

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Your new Loudoun County Real Estate Tax Rate, $1.14 per $100

What does this mean? It means that you will pay 18 cents higher than the current rate of 96 cents per $100 of your home’s assessed value. According to Loudoun Times, the tax rates may also be going to get higher next year. I recently had a correspondence on this issue with Jim Burton, Loudoun County Board of Directors member from Blue Ridge District. I am able to publish it, since all correspondence to government officials becomes part of the public record and may be subject to inspection under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Click "Read More" to see my correspondence and his response.

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tea time in loudoun

What do you get when you have a Greek and a Romanian in a room? Other than fireworks, you get alchemy. Not gold exactly. You get a garden. A great marriage. A farm. Cosmetics. Scone mixes. You have to wonder what on earth we are talking about. We will start at the beginning

Peter and Sarah Roussos met over 30 years ago and although it wasn’t love at first sight, they quickly found their common European heritage and aspirations for the future a bond that brought them closer. They went to school together and no matter how hard they fought it, Cupid’s arrow found its way to them. They married shortly after leaving their teen years behind.

Their golden dream for the future was to one day move to the country and own a farm. After 30 years of working, loving each other, raising a wonderful son, they did just that. They planted the first seeds of what was to become a new supplier for the Whole Foods Supermarket chain--the Green Alchemy Herb & Mercantile Company.

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Quattro Goombas Winery

In the quiet suburb of South Riding three friends came together to create the state’s first urban micro winery. On Sunday, September 16 we had the pleasure of meeting David Gaetani, winemaker and CEO, Jay DeCianno, COO and David Camden, CFO at their premier wine tasting event hosted by WineStyles in South Riding and Son Distributors.

The Quattro Goombas Winery blends old world methods passed on by their ancestors over many generations. Their grapes are sourced from the top growing regions around the world, which produce outstanding varietals. They brought in their first shipment of grapes from California, crushing them in September 2006, blending them in May and bottling 100 cases in June. The resulting  wines are Vino Di Nonni “Grandfather Wine”, Vino Di San Pietro and Vino D’Ana1. Vino di Nonni “Grandfather Wine” is a light bodied, fruity red wine, which you can serve chilled. It is also a secret recipe passed on from their ancestors. Great for those white wine lovers who might be shy of reds. 2. Vino Di San Pietro is a medium bodied red made up of 80% Sangiovese grape, which made us think we were back in Tuscany. It was very smooth with soft tannins.3. Vino D’Ana, named after Dave Gaetani’s sister Diana, a full bodied red wine which is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. We found this wine to be exceptionally smooth. It was our favorite.We were not sure what to expect when we showed up at WineStyles. We had never heard of an urban micro winery before and now we are one of their biggest fans. Besides the Quattro Goombas warm reception and professionalism, the wine was truly one of a kind for Loudoun County.In the spring of 2008 the Quattro Goombas will have the grand opening of their tasting room. For more information about the Quattro Goombas please visit http://mysite.verizon.net/vzevidhj/quattrogoombaswinery/

TESTIMONIALS

February 2012 Thank you for producing such a fun, current magazine full of great information. Wishing you continued (and BIG) success. Pamela Steuart.Fine Art
October 2011 Just picked up a copy at my daughter's Little Gym class and found myself reading it instead of my Kindle! Enjoyed many of the essays, particularly the first year teacher at an inner-city school...and so many other articles. Kristine Meldrum Denholm, freelance journalist
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